Movement-cure apparatus.



G. J. MACAURA. movEm-:NTcum` APPARATUS.

(Application filed Dec. 6, 1901.)

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Patented Dec. 23, |902.

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Inventar:

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Nouns ,Sterns PATENT OFFICE.

MOVEMENT-CURE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of-Letters Patent No. 716,448, dated December 23, 1902. Application filed December 6, 1901. Serial No. 84,878. .(No model.)

To all whom. t potty concern:

Be it known that I, GERALD J. MACAURA, a citizen of the United States, residing in Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Movement-Cure Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in movement-cure apparatus, it particularly relating to an improved surgical vibrator adapted to act in an especially effective manner upon any portion of the body to which it is applied, the object of the invention being to provide an improved device of this character eective when applied to the body to produce not merely a surface stimulation, but a penetrating effect, and this without irritating the nervous system of the patient.

In the drawings accompanying and form-v ing part of this specification, Figure l is a view of one-half of a casing with this improved striker or beater in section. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View taken in the line ct ct, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of this improved striker or beater; and Fig.` 4 is an illustrative view of this improved striker in action, the dotted lines illustrating the position the yielding head assumes during its passage over the contact-plate.

The present improvement comprises in a general Way a rotary beater or striker formed of a yielding materialsnch, for instance, as rubber-carrying one or more plate-engaging surfaces having, preferably, a metallicformation, each of said surfaces being free of pivotal connection with such body, but organized to yield in one direction when in contact with the plate. In the form shown the beater or striker is intended to be connected with suitable power, such as an electric or other suitable motor, for. imparting movement thereto. In the present instancev this irnproved beater or striker is mounted in a suitable casing 2, which may be of any desired formation. In one form thereof it is made up of two half members or sections 3 4, open at its under side, such sections being suitably bolted together at its front and rear lower edges and secured together at its top with a suitable screw. Carried by the casing for movement relatively thereto is a suitable Contact plate 5, which is preferably of a fibrous material. It may, however, be of rubber or analogous material. This plate has one end secured or hinged to the casing at the under side thereof,it being shown clamped in position against a shoulder 5 by a clamping member 6, having a pair of ears 7 overlapping the side walls of the casing and held in position by one of the bolts which connect the two half members of the casing. This clamping member 6 will in practice be slightly curved in the direction of its length, so that it will exert considerable tension upon the contact-plate, the front end of such clamping member being beveled or chamfered off, so that when the instrument is in contact with the body no rough surfaces Will disturb the patient or interfere with the proper shifting of the instrument. A suitable bur or proj ection 6', carried by the casing, projects into an opening in the plate to prevent the slipping of such plate out of its proper position. The beater or striker comprises a body formed of a yielding material-such, for instance, as rubberhaving a part thereof encircled by a metallic member constructed to shift the contact-plate, and in the present instance it is shown comprisinga body 8, having a plurality (shown as three,although any number ma;T be usedDof strikers 9, each comprising a head 9 anda neck 9". Each of these heads is so connectedwith the bod y,which may be of various sizes and formations, that while it will yield Vrelatively thereto it is free of joint and pivotal connections. In practice each of these heads is preferably covered by a suitable protector or cap, preferably metallic, which is curved in cross-section and whereby wear of Vthe strikers is resisted. This beater or striker may be composed of any suitable material which will permit the heads to yield sufficiently to pass properly over the contact-plate 5 when in use, but is preferably composed of rubber of a suitable quality and condition, which, while permitting an eiective striking of the contact-plate 5, will not appreciably retard the action of the beater orstriker. In the form shown the beater or striker is provided with a metallic core or sleeve l0,-internally threaded for the reception ofan externallythreaded portion of a shaft 12, shown provided with a shoulder 13, intermediate which and one side of the beater or striker is placed. a washer 14. Intermediate the opposite side of the beater or striker and a suitable clampingnut is also located a wash'er. By threading the sleeve 10 and shaft 12 the slipping of the beater or striker relatively to the shaft when in operation is prevented. This result can, however, be obtained in other well-known ways. One end of the shaft 12 is mounted in a suitable bearing 15 in one side of the casing, while its opposite end is provided with an opening 16, into which projects a rotary core 17 of a flexible shaft 18, it being coupled therewith by a suitable fastening device, such as a screw 19. The end of the fiexible shaft carries an eX- ternally-threaded sleeve 20, turned into an internally-threaded socket 21, carried by the casing. The opposite end of this flexible shaft will'be in practice connected with suitable power, such as an electric or other n10- tor, which may be supported in any desired way, as by being swung from a ceiling or secured rigidly to the wall or floor or fastened to a hinged bracket. The casing is provided with a suitable handle 22, which may be of flexible formation, if desired, shown projectinginto a socket 23, by means of which the .instrument is applied to the body.

the beater or striker is rotated, and as each head thereof strikes the plate a vibratory effeet is given to that portion of the body to which the device is applied, such vibratory eect'depending, as just stated, upon the pressure with which the device is applied to the body. As each head successively engages the plate the material of which the beater or striker is composed permits it to yield (and without producing a jerk) sufficiently to enable it to pass over such plate. B v constructing the device of a resilient or springy material a considerable amount of the metallic clang which would be present if the device were constructed entirely of metal is obviated, while at the same time the action of the beater or striker is such that without so much harshness and pressure a much more penetrating eect is obtained, the vibration obtained, however, being of a soothing instead of an irritating quality. Furthermore, the organization of the presentinstrumentis such that the operator can apply the same without being affected by the vibration thereof.

By the provision of a number of heads or strikers located relatively close one to another a much more effective and constant action is obtained. By forming the beater or striker of a fieXible material vibration will be imparted to a patient with an entire absence of engaging said contact-plate, but maintained against movement independently of the body when free of contact with said plate, and means for rotating said striker.

2. In a surgical vibrator, the combination of a striker having one or more heads formed of a resilient material, each provided with a cap, and a contact member coperating therewith.

3. In a device of the character specified, the combination of a contact-plate; means for supporting the plate; means for vibrating the plate; means for actuating the vibrating means; and means independent of the actuating means and its casing for manipulating the device.

4. In a surgical vibrator, the combination of a rotary striker comprising a body formed as one member with a circular head adapted to yield relatively to such body; a contactplate in position to cooperate with the head; and means for rotating said striker.

5. In a surgical vibrator, the combination of a contact-plate, and a striker having one or more heads each provided with a cap adapted to engage said plate.

6. In a surgical vibrator, the combination of a contact-plate; a rotary striker comprising a body of relatively large area, cut away to form one or more heads integral but yieldingly connected with such body, each of such heads having less area than such body; and means for rotating such striker.

7. In a surgical vibrator, the combination of a contact-plate and a striker comprisinga body, and one or more heads integral but yieldingly connected with such body, each of said heads having a metallic cap.

8. In a device of the character specified, the combination of a contact-plate; means for supporting the plate; means for vibrating the plate and comprising a body having a part thereof constructed to impart motion to the contact-plate and encircled by a metallic member; and means for rotating the vibrating means.

9. In a surgical vibrator, the combination with a casing, of a rotary striker mounted therein and comprising a body having one or more heads, each provided with a cap, and a movable contact-plate carried bysuch casing.

, 10. In a surgical vibrator, the combination with a casing open at its under side and having a handle, of a rotary striker in said casing, and a swinging contact-plate carried by such casing.

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11. In a surgical vibrator, the combination with a casing having a handle, of a contactplate hinged thereto, and a rotary striker mounted in said casing and comprisinga body having one or more heads integral therewith but yieldingly connected thereto and effective to engage said plate.

12. In a surgical vibrator, the combination with a casing having a handle, of a contactplate hinged thereto, a rotarystriker mounted in said casing and comprisinga body having one or more heads integral therewith but yieldingly connected thereto and eective to engage said plate, and a flexible shaft connected with said striker for imparting motion thereto.

13. In a surgical vibrator, the combination with a casing open at its under side; a plate hinged to such casing at such under side; a shaft journaled in said casing and having a threaded portion and a shoulder; a striker having an internally-threaded bearing-sleeve for the reception of the threaded portion of said shaft; means comprising a nut and washers for securing said striker in position; and a flexible shaft connected with said strikershaft for imparting motion thereto.

14. In a surgical vibrator, the combination with a casing open at its under side, of a plate hinged to such casing at such under side; a shaft journaled in said casing and having a threaded portion and a shoulder; a striker comprising a body having one or more heads integral therewith but yieldingly connected thereto, each of said heads having a cap, said striker having an internally-threaded bearing-sleeve for the reception of the threaded portion of said shaft; means for secu ring said striker in position; and a flexible shaft connected with said striker for imparting motion thereto.

15. As an article of manufacture, a striker comprising a body having one or more heads formed of resilient material and integral therewith, each joined to such body-by a neck of less area than such head whereby the head will yield relatively to the body.

16. As an article of manufacture, a striker comprising a body having one or more heads integral but yieldingly connected therewith and each having a cap.

17. As an article of manufacture, a striker comprising a solid body having a plurality of integral circularly-formed heads projecting radially therefrom but yieldingly connected therewith.

18. In a surgical vibrator, the combination ofa rotary striker comprising a body formed of resilient material and having one or more heads integral therewith, each joined to such body by a neck of less area than such head whereby the head Will yield relatively to the body; a contact-plate in position to cooperate with such head or heads; and means for rotating such striker.

19. In a device of the character specified, the combination of a contact-plate; means for supporting the plate; means for vibrating the plate and comprising a body formed of yielding material and having a part thereof encircled by a metallic member constructed to shift the contact-plate; and means for rotating the vibrating means.

20. In a device of the character specified, the combination of a contact-plate; means for supporting the plate; means for vibrating the plate and comprisingabody formed of a yielding material and carrying one or more plateengaging surfaces having metallic coverings.

GERALD J. MACAURA.

Witnesses:

E. M. WILcOX, HENRY BIssELL. 

